The Bearcats opened the game on a strong note, hitting four of their first nine shots to open up with a 12-6 lead over the Mustangs as SMU started 1-of-5.

UC scored just three points over the next eight minutes and 36 seconds while the Mustangs put up 21 to take a 27-15 lead with 6:54 remaining in the frame. SMU was 9-of-16 from the floor during the spurt including a pair of three-pointers.

Cincinnati eventually faced a 39-22 deficit at the break after shooting 34.6 percent compared to 50 percent for SMU.

Cincinnati turned the ball over 11 times in the first half compared to just three giveaways for the Mustangs.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES:

UConn enters the contest with a perfect 22-0 overall record and a 9-0 mark in conference play.

The Huskies are the unanimous top pick in both the AP Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls.

UConn is the national leader in scoring defense (48.2), scoring margin (35.8), field goal percentage defense (31.5), blocks per game (8.6) and assist-turnover ratio (1.87).

Breanna Stewart currently ranks second in the conference and 26th nationally in scoring at 18.7 points per game. She also ranks second in the American in free throw percentage (79.6).

Stefanie Dolson is second in the conference and 20th nationally in blocks per game (2.71). She also ranks third in the confernece in rebounding at 9.4.

Dolson is one of two players this season to record a triple-double.

Dating back to last season, the defending national champions have won a total of 28 straight games.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Breanna Stewart were each selected to the five-member AP Preseason All-America Team.

STORYLINES

Jeanise Randolph tied the single-game blocks record against Louisville on Jan. 4 swatting six shots against the Cardinals. The total tied Bev Obringer who had six blocks against Southern Miss on Jan. 28, 1989. Randolph is just six blocks away from cracking the single-season top-ten list for blocks.

Over the last three games, freshman Bianca Quisenberry is leading the Bearcats in scoring at 10 points per game. UC’s starting point guard the last two games, Quisenberry is also the second-leading rebounder at 4.7 per game.

The Cincinnati defense is holding opponents an average of 15.2 points below their season scoring pace. Cincinnati held No. 1 UConn 19.3 points below their scoring average. No. 7 Louisville was limited to 25.6 points below their scoring pace. Overall UC has limited 12 opponents to double-digits below their scoring average, including six in conference play.

Jeanise Randolph is making her mark in conference play, ranking first in rebounding (10.9), sixth in blocks (1.8), 14th in steals (1.6) and 16th in scoring (10.8). She ranks first in the league in defensive rebounding (7.8). Randolph has three double-doubles in five conference games.

Jeanise Randolph’s seven double-doubles this season are the most for a UC player in a single season since Jill Stephens finished the 2007-08 season with 10.

Cincinnati is currently ranked fourth in the conference and 35th nationally in scoring defense, limiting opponents to just 59.1 points per game.

With the Cincinnati men’s basketball program currently ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense at 57.3 points per game, UC is the only Division I school in the country with both the men’s and women’s basketball program limiting opponents to fewer than 60 points per game.

Cincinnati went 5-0 against the state of Ohio during non-conference play. The Bearcats picked up wins over Kent State, Akron, Youngstown State, Xavier and Ohio State.

UC set a new scoring record under head coach Jamelle Elliott after totaling 86 points during the win over Akron. The mark eclipsed the previous best of 85 against Furman during Elliott’s first game at UC.

Bianca Quisenberry was named American Rookie of the week on Dec. 9, 2013 after nearly recording a triple-double against Youngstown State. The true freshman had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists against the Penguins. It was the first freshman award for UC since Kayla Cook garnered the honor on March 1, 2009.